In modern society, electricity has become a key energy to support the normal operation of the country, and its importance in the military field is self-evident. From the operation of military equipment, to the development of combat command, and then to the maintenance of military logistics support, electricity runs through every link of military activities, and profoundly affects the direction and outcome of the war.
Modern weapons and equipment are more dependent on electricity than ever before. Taking the maritime giant aircraft carrier as an example, the total power of China's Liaoning aircraft carrier can reach 300,000 horsepower, about 220,000 kilowatts, such a huge power, enough to meet the power supply and winter heating needs of a city of about 200,000 people. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, with its more powerful power system, consumes far more electricity than the conventional power aircraft carrier, not only to maintain the navigation of the aircraft carrier itself, but also to ensure the takeoff and landing of carrier-borne aircraft, the operation of various weapon systems and the life of the ship's officers and soldiers.
As a key technology for the takeoff of carrier aircraft, electromagnetic catapult technology also consumes a surprising amount of power. The largest carrier aircraft takes off with a charging power of 3100 kilowatts, counting the energy loss, the actual power needs to be about 4,000 kilowatts, which is equivalent to the power consumption of more than 3,600 1.5-unit air conditioners when starting at the same time. This high power demand puts forward extremely high requirements for the power supply system of the aircraft carrier, only with a strong and stable power guarantee, electromagnetic catapult technology can play its due effectiveness, improve the sortie efficiency of carrier-based aircraft, and enhance the combat capability of the aircraft carrier battle group.
In the field of radar, the 7010 radar transmitter has a total peak power of 10,000 kilowatts, and it is like a pair of sharp eyes, which can search and track targets in a vast airspace. Such a powerful power output allows the radar to detect targets at long distances, providing valuable warning time for military defenses. The Dongfeng cruise missile, as an important strategic weapon in China, uses a dedicated power grid and is equipped with a large capacity superconducting battery, whose peak power output can reach 1000 trillion watts of laser pulse output. These advanced military equipment, once the loss of stable power supply, like the loss of power of the heart, simply cannot operate normally, more difficult to play its due combat effectiveness.
With the continuous development of science and technology, the demand for electricity for military equipment will continue to grow in the future. For example, the electromagnetic railgun under development needs to release a huge amount of electrical energy in an instant when firing shells, which puts forward nearly harsh requirements on the energy storage and power supply capacity of the power system. There is also the drone swarm combat system, which requires stable power to ensure their flight, communication and mission execution, which has prompted continuous innovation and breakthroughs in military power technology.
In the era of information warfare, the combat command system is highly dependent on electronic equipment and network communication. From the collection and transmission of battlefield information to the issuance of operational instructions, every link is like the nervous system of the human body, and electricity is the "blood" to maintain the normal operation of this system.
If the power goes out, the entire battle command system will be paralyzed. Radar can not detect the target, just like losing eyes, can not see the battlefield situation; The communication system is paralyzed, the link between the command center and the combat troops is cut off, the information cannot be transmitted, the combat instructions cannot be issued, and the troops will fall into a chaotic situation of fighting for themselves. For example, during the Kosovo War in 1999, NATO air forces used carbon-fiber bombs to attack the Federal Yugoslav power system, causing a blackout in 70 percent of the country. The attack resulted in the loss of lights on the runway of the Federal airport and the inability of aircraft to take off and land normally; Computer systems were down, and combat command software could not operate; Communication was lost. Command center lost contact with frontline troops. This series of chain reactions greatly weakened the operational command ability of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, so that it was in an extremely passive position in the war, and eventually led to the war situation in the direction of unfavorable to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Nowadays, with the application of artificial intelligence, big data and other technologies in the field of military command, the combat command system has higher requirements for the stability and reliability of power. Intelligent command and decision systems require powerful computing power to process massive battlefield data, and all of this is inseparable from a stable power supply. At the same time, in order to ensure the survivability of the combat command system in a complex electromagnetic environment, it is also necessary to continuously develop new power support technologies, such as distributed power supply system, uninterruptible power supply technology, etc., to improve the anti-interference ability and redundancy of the system.
Military logistics is an important support for the victory of the war, and electricity plays an indispensable role in it. As an important base of the army, the daily operation of the military base is inseparable from the maintenance of electricity. From the lighting system to provide light for the base, to the normal operation of various types of equipment, and to the living facilities to meet the needs of military personnel, electricity runs through every corner of the military base. A stable power supply can ensure that the work within the military base is carried out in an orderly manner, improve the operational efficiency of the military base, ensure the quality of life of military personnel, and thus enhance the combat effectiveness of the army.
In wartime, electricity is essential for logistical support such as keeping medical equipment running and ensuring supplies are stored and transported. Medical equipment is the key to the treatment of the wounded and sick, once the power is interrupted, surgery can not be carried out, life monitoring equipment can not work, the wounded and sick will not be timely and effective treatment, which will not only affect the safety of soldiers, but also weaken the combat effectiveness of the army. In terms of material storage, many materials have strict requirements on the storage environment, such as drugs, ammunition, etc. need to be stored under appropriate temperature and humidity conditions, and the interruption of power supply may lead to the deterioration of the storage environment, causing damage or deterioration of materials, affecting the supply of combat materials. In the transport sector, electric driven transport equipment such as electric vehicles, electric transport planes, etc., play an important role in modern military logistics. If there is a problem with the power supply, these transportation equipment cannot operate normally, and supplies cannot reach the front line in time, which may lead to shortages of supplies for frontline combat troops and affect the smooth conduct of combat operations.
In addition, with the intelligent development of military logistics support, new logistics support models such as unmanned warehouses and intelligent distribution continue to emerge, which put higher requirements on power supply. The automation equipment and intelligent monitoring system in the unmanned warehouse need stable power support, and the intelligent distribution vehicle relies on electricity to drive and ensure the normal operation of its communication and navigation system through electricity. Only by ensuring the stable supply of electricity can we realize the high efficiency and intelligence of military logistics and provide a solid backing for the victory of the war.
To sum up, as a key element of modern military, electricity runs through all aspects of military equipment, combat command and logistics support. All countries must attach great importance to the role of electricity in the military field, strengthen the construction of military power system, and improve the ability of power support. On the one hand, it is necessary to increase the investment in the research and development of military power technology, continuous innovation and breakthrough, and improve the performance and reliability of power system; On the other hand, we should pay attention to the protection of power infrastructure, establish a perfect protection system to prevent it from becoming the target of enemy attacks in wartime, and maintain national security and stability. In the future war, who has the initiative of power, who is likely to win the war.
